I have explained elsewhere my decision to stop offering live training in the defensive
use of firearms. Inasmuch as the system I developed was the product of a critical examination of all the training I took
from numerous sources, I cannot expect that any one of the sources linked below would provide complete
training. I urge you to use the information on this website and in my
book to evaluate any training you are contemplating or may already have taken.

I have listed these schools or trainers in alphabetical order, rather than in any other sort of priority. In most cases,
I have no personal knowledge of their programs but am simply sharing recommendations from sources I consider
trustworthy. (I do wonder why some instructors will not teach private citizens the same things they teach cops.)

Active Response Training
Based in Columbus OH, Greg Ellifritz does some traveling; he offers a wide range of training including some valuable
material beyond the usual gun stuff; of note, he no longer offers specific courses to police and security personnel

Agile Training & Consulting
Based in Topeka KS, founder Chuck Haggard is assisted by a cadre that travel nationwide; it is one of those schools that
divides its courses into military, police, security and personal-defense offerings

American Firearms Training & Tactics
Based in Prescott Valley AZ, Mark Fricke does some traveling; he offers the whole gamut, from courses oriented toward
the private citizen to tactical team training and NRA-LEAD instructor schools

American Institute of Marksmanship
Located in Cave City KY, Jim Higginbotham goes beyond his Gunsite roots and offers many insights derived from current
US military experience as well an anatomical approach to targets

Defense Training International, Inc.
Based in La Porte CO, John Farnam is a traveling instructor; he is pretty insistent on his "method" but is ls known for
some interesting exercises and his emphasis on mental conditioning

Handgun Combatives
Based in Dayton OH, Dave Spaulding also travels to other locations; his specialization in the use of the autoloading
pistol reflects his SWAT years but he is also known for his emphasis on "software"

Hardwired Tactical Shooting
Based in the Dallas TX area, this school offers handgun, shotgun and rifle courses; however, the rifle courses seem to
be among the offerings limited to law-enforcement personnel

I.C.E. Training
Based in Virginia Beach VA, Rob Pincus and his associates offer training at many locations; I know him for his Combat
Focus Shooting system, which seems to share a lot with what I used to teach

Insights Training Center
Based in Bellevue WA, Greg Hamilton and his staff and guest instructors offer a wide variety of training, albeit with
different offerings for private citizens, police and military personnel

KR Training
With a primary range in Lee County TX, this school has both male and female instructors who also offer training at other
locations; offerings concentrate on handgun training at various levels

Marksmanship Consultants
Located in La Center WA, a short distance across the river from Portland OR, Gary Crane differs from most of the other
instructors listed here in that his primary emphasis is on improving handgun marksmanship

Massad Ayoob Group
Based in Live Oak FL, Massad Ayoob is a traveling instructor; I believe the most bang for the buck you can get from
him is his MAG-20/Classroom - Armed Citizens' Rules of Engagement course

MN Pistol Class
Located in Circle Pines MN, Craig Brownell offers both a basic handgun course to qualify for a carry permit in several
states and LEOSA certification for retired peace officers living in Minnesota

Personal Security Institue
Based in Salem OR, revolversmith Grant Cunningham is also a traveling instructor who offers training emphasizing his own
insights into the operation of the double-action revolver as well as with pistols and rifles

Practical Firearms Training
Located near Alderson WV, Pat Goodale is recommended to me as providing quality instruction in all of his courses;
while he has a range complex of his own, he also appears to travel to other locations

RangeMaster
Based in Memphis TN, Tom Givens and his associates offer what they describe as advanced training, around the US and
abroad, including an annual tactical "conference" in Memphis

Rogers Shooting School
Located near Ellijay GA, Bill Rogers and his assistants emphasize quick-reaction shooting on briefly exposed targets with
half of the handgun work done one-handed; training is also offered with rifle, shotgun and submachine gun

Sames Instinctive Shooting SchoolBased in Ruskin FL, Ted
Sames teaches an updated version of the Israeli method - minus the empty-chamber carry - for handgun, shotgun or rifle,
in his own neck of the woods and around the country

Sand Burr Gun Ranch
Located in North Rochester IN, Denny Reichard and his daughter Ashley specialize in revolver training; I've never seen
Ashley shoot but I've watched Denny fire a .44 Magnum in each hand as easily as others shoot .38's

Shootrite Firearms Academy
Located in Langston AL, Tiger McKee apparently worked for Clint Smith (not one of my favorite instructors); however,
I have been very impressed with his articles, in terms of tactics

SnubTraining.com
Based in North Billerica MA, Michael deBethencourt concentrates on the short-barrel revolver, popular with private
citizens and off-duty and undercover cops; courses are offered primarily in the Northeast; Michael challenges some of
the traditional training with revolvers

Tactical Defense Institute
Located in West Union OH, I have received some non-specific favorable comments about the quality of TDI training, whose
offerings include force-on-force and low-light applications

Trident Concepts
Based in Cedar Park TX, Jeff Gonzalez is a traveling instructor providing vigorous SEAL-style training with handgun and
carbine as well as a Concealed Carry Tactics course

Viking Tactics
Kyle Lamb is a traveling instructor, recommended to me as providing excellent advanced-level training in the use of
the semiautomatic carbine, such as the AR-15 and its variants

Material is posted on this page for information and discussion only and
purports to be no more than the personal opinion of
Stephen P. Wenger.

I make no effort to identify or track visitors to this site, by cookies or any other means. While I do not
knowingly share return addresses from e-mail generated from this site, such as to make comments or ask questions,
I cannot preclude monitoring by ISP's and government agencies. Similarly, I cannot resist seizure of my computer
by lawful subpoena or warrant. If correspondence from you would reveal indictable, illegal activity on your part,
I suggest that you reconsider such correspondence. I have no desire to abet such activity nor to become embroiled
in your prosecution.

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